Tubes have no optics, just air and electrical contacts, Canon charges a lot for the air in theirs. But really cheap ones can break at the mount (many are plastic or weak metal). Kenko is good, if you can't get them, I'd say Canon.

Personally, I went with a Canon 25mm tube - I'm not going to risk the mount failing, because my main use for it is to reduce the MFD of my 600 II.

+1 on the Velbon Super Mag Slider, best of the 'budget' options. For best quality, Really Right Stuff is the one.

Tubes have no optics, just air and electrical contacts, Canon charges a lot for the air in theirs. But really cheap ones can break at the mount (many are plastic or weak metal). Kenko is good, if you can't get them, I'd say Canon.

Personally, I went with a Canon 25mm tube - I'm not going to risk the mount failing, because my main use for it is to reduce the MFD of my 600 II.

+1 on the Velbon Super Mag Slider, best of the 'budget' options. For best quality, Really Right Stuff is the one.

Thanks neuro, I think I will get canon air

Unfortunately Velbon is not sold by eBay India. I guess I will have to ask one of my colleagues who will be traveling to the US...

If you want something very affordable, look at Deal Extreme. They have focus rails and extension tubes for a very low price. I haven't tried them, so I can't vouch for their quality, but both have good reviews on the site.

If you want something very affordable, look at Deal Extreme. They have focus rails and extension tubes for a very low price. I haven't tried them, so I can't vouch for their quality, but both have good reviews on the site.

I'm sure even the cheap ones can support the load of even a gripped body and 180L. The issue is how smoothly they move under load, how much play and backlash which affect the ability to get the position exactly where you want it, index marks for focus stacking, and design issues (do you need to add the cost of a QR clamp, sufficient to rotate the body with a collared lens, etc.).

markm

Really Right Stuff redesigned their macro rails a few years back - the newer design is really excellent. If you find one used make sure it is the later edition. I have used the RRS rails with the 100mm and also the collared 180mm macro. Very stable and smooth, but not cheap.

Really Right Stuff redesigned their macro rails a few years back - the newer design is really excellent. If you find one used make sure it is the later edition. I have used the RRS rails with the 100mm and also the collared 180mm macro.

I'm debating the single rail vs. the collared setup. I've got the 100L with no collar (and no plans to get one), and the MP-E 65mm, which has a collar. The problems for the MP-E 65mm are that 1) the normal plate doesn't allow camera rotation with a 1-series body, so I'd need to use just a multipurpose rail with no antitwist, and 2) attaching the flash bracket to a rail on the tripod foor puts it a couple of inches forward of where I can get it with an MPR-CL II attached to the body L-bracket - my concern is that at the short end (1-2x), with the flash bracket mounted to the lens 'plate' (MPR), the 6" extension would put the flash heads behind my subject given the 4" working distance at 1x.

I just got my 100L macro lens and realise I need macro extension tubes and macro rails. I shot some six legged creature that was about 1.5mm long! This is the first macro lens I have owned.

I use both the 100L and 65 MP-E, and honestly, while macro focusing rail (and macro ring flash) is an absolute MUST with MP-E with its up-to-5X(!) magnification and no IS, 100L with its hybrid IS is much more forgiving for hand-holding. Unless you plan on going the MP-E route, a Macro ring flash (doesn't have to be expensive Canon) may be a better, and more fun, investment IME.

Even dedicated macro shooters sometimes find it a drag having to lug around a tripod and macro focusing rail on a "fun" macro shooting..